Relationships with countries

Question 1

What demonstrated Britain’s role in fighting alongside the US during the Korean War?

Answer 1

1950s: Britain contributed 100,000 troops and led a Commonwealth effort in the Korean War.

Question 2

What crisis did Macmillan have to rebuild his friendship with Eisenhower after?

Answer 2

1956–1958: Following the Suez Crisis and Eden’s resignation, Macmillan rebuilt his wartime friendship with President Eisenhower.

Question 3

What agreement did the US and UK sign to cooperate on nuclear weapons technology?

Answer 3

1958: The US–UK Mutual Defence Agreement on nuclear weapons cooperation, called by Macmillan ‘The Great Prize.’

Question 4

What showed that the UK was subordinate to US decision-making in the Korean War?

Answer 4

1950s: UK forces (100,000 troops) were much smaller than US forces (1.7 million), serving under US commanders.

Question 5

What event illustrated the US’s veto power over independent British action in 1956?

Answer 5

1956: During the Suez Crisis, the US threatened economic collapse and a run on the pound, forcing British withdrawal.

Question 6

Which US president consulted with Macmillan during the Berlin and Cuban Missile Crises?

Answer 6

1961–1962: President Kennedy consulted with Prime Minister Macmillan during the Berlin Crisis and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Question 7

What decision by Harold Wilson during the Vietnam War showed British independence?

Answer 7

1960s: Prime Minister Harold Wilson rejected calls for British troops to be sent to Vietnam.

Question 8

What limited Britain’s influence during the Berlin and Cuban Missile Crises?

Answer 8

1961–1962: Britain played no major role in the Berlin Crisis or the Cuban Missile Crisis due to declining power.

Question 9

What 1967 diplomatic effort by Wilson was ignored by the US?

Answer 9

1967: President Wilson’s attempt to forge a peace agreement in Vietnam was ignored by the United States.

Question 10

Which US action in the early 1960s showed the UK’s reliance on American technology for its nuclear deterrent?

Answer 10

1962: President Kennedy unilaterally canceled the UK’s Skybolt missile program, showing UK reliance on US for deterrent.

Question 11

What move by Heath demonstrated the UK’s independent foreign policy in the 1970s?

Answer 11

1970s: Prime Minister Edward Heath oriented Britain towards the EEC, signaling an independent foreign policy.

Question 12

During which conflict did Heath refuse US access to British bases in Cyprus?

Answer 12

1973: During the Yom Kippur War, Heath refused to grant US access to British bases in Cyprus.

Question 13

What did the US do in 1973 to retaliate against the UK orienting towards the EEC?

Answer 13

1973: The US cut off UK access to shared intelligence, known as ‘the intelligence tap.’

Question 14

What US military readiness level change in 1973 involved forces stationed on British bases without UK consultation?

Answer 14

1973: During the Yom Kippur War, the US raised its forces to Defcon-3, some of which were stationed on British bases without informing Britain.

Question 15

Which British Prime Minister had a close relationship with Jimmy Carter between 1976 and 1979?

Answer 15

1976–1979: Prime Minister James Callaghan enjoyed a close personal relationship with US President Jimmy Carter.

Question 16

What conference in 1979 involved the US inviting the UK, France, and West Germany to coordinate strategy?

Answer 16

1979: The Guadeloupe Conference where the US, UK, France, and West Germany discussed strategy on Iran and Afghanistan.

Question 17

Which British and American leaders had a warm personal relationship in the 1980s?

Answer 17

1980s: Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and President Ronald Reagan shared a warm personal relationship.

Question 18

How did the US support Britain during the Falklands War?

Answer 18

1982: The US provided logistical and intelligence support to help Britain win the Falklands War.

Question 19

Which 1986 military action did Thatcher allow using British bases for US planes?

Answer 19

1986: Thatcher allowed British bases to be used for US planes to bomb Libya.

Question 20

What stance did Thatcher and Reagan share regarding apartheid South Africa?

Answer 20

1980s: Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan both opposed UN sanctions against apartheid South Africa.

Question 21

How did Thatcher demonstrate independent Cold War initiative in the 1980s?

Answer 21

1984: Thatcher took the lead in engaging Gorbachev, calling him ‘a man we can do business with.’

Question 22

Which INF talks disagreement showed Reagan ignored Thatcher’s views?

Answer 22

1986: Reagan proceeded with Gorbachev agreement at the INF talks despite Thatcher’s urging not to concede too much.

Question 23

What defense initiative did Thatcher oppose while Reagan pursued it?

Answer 23

1980s: Thatcher opposed the US Strategic Defence Initiative (‘Star Wars’), but Reagan continued its development.

Question 24

Which 1983 US action occurred without British approval, despite British interest?

Answer 24

1983: Reagan invaded Grenada, a Commonwealth country, without British permission.

Question 25

How did the UK and US cooperate in the Gulf War?

Answer 25

1991: US and UK cooperated closely in the Gulf War with the RAF playing a key role.

Question 26

What NATO operation did the US and UK jointly conduct in 1995?

Answer 26

1995: US and UK cooperated within NATO to bomb Bosnian Serbs and negotiated the Dayton Accords.

Question 27

What demonstrated the UK’s junior partner status in the Gulf War?

Answer 27

1991: UK was a small part of the US-led coalition under American command.

Question 28

How did operation counts compare between the US and UK in Bosnia 1995?

Answer 28

1995: US conducted 2,300 operations versus the UK’s 236, highlighting US dominance.

Question 29

What policy did Khrushchev adopt after Stalin’s death?

Answer 29

1953: Nikita Khrushchev adopted a policy of 'peaceful coexistence.'

Question 30

What naval action occurred between Britain and the Soviet Union in 1955?

Answer 30

1955: British and Soviet navies exchanged goodwill visits.

Question 31

Which Soviet leader visited Britain in 1956?

Answer 31

1956: Nikita Khrushchev visited Britain.

Question 32

Which British Prime Minister visited Moscow in 1959?

Answer 32

1959: Prime Minister Harold Macmillan visited Moscow.

Question 33

Which two British diplomats defected to the Soviet Union?

Answer 33

1951: Guy Burgess and Donald Maclean defected to the Soviet Union after passing secrets.

Question 34

How did the Soviet Union support North Korea in the Korean War?

Answer 34

1950–1953: Soviet Union provided T-34 tanks and MiG jets to North Korea, used on British troops.

Question 35

How did the Soviet Union indirectly contribute to the Suez Crisis through Egypt?

Answer 35

1950s: Soviet Union, via Czechoslovakia, supplied Egypt with weapons, contributing to tensions leading to the Suez Crisis.

Question 36

Which British double agent escaped to Moscow in 1963?

Answer 36

1963: Kim Philby, a KGB double agent, escaped to Moscow after assisting Burgess and Maclean.

Question 37

How many Soviet diplomats were expelled by the UK in 1971?

Answer 37

1971: The UK expelled 105 Soviet diplomats accused of spying.

Question 38

How did the Soviet Union support the Aden insurgents?

Answer 38

1963–1967: Soviet Union supplied support to insurgents during the Aden Emergency.

Question 39

Which agreement did the UK sign in 1975 committing to human rights in the Soviet Union?

Answer 39

1975: The UK signed the Helsinki Accords, committing to human rights in the USSR and Communist countries.

Question 40

What did Thatcher say about Gorbachev in 1984?

Answer 40

1984: Thatcher described Gorbachev as 'a man we can do business with' and was labeled 'Iron Lady' by the Soviet press.

Question 41

How did the British SAS assist anti-Soviet forces in Afghanistan?

Answer 41

1985–1990s: British SAS trained Mujahideen to use Stinger missiles, helping bring down Soviet helicopters during the Afghan War.

Question 42

Which Russian leader did Britain support diplomatically in 1991?

Answer 42

1991: Britain provided diplomatic support to Boris Yeltsin during the failed pro-Communist coup.

Question 43

When did Boris Yeltsin visit Britain and what did he sign?

Answer 43

1992: Yeltsin visited Britain and signed a comprehensive trade and security agreement with Prime Minister John Major.

Question 44

What policy did John Major introduce in 1994 that benefited Russian investment?

Answer 44

1994: Major introduced foreign investment visas, 20% of which went to Russians, leading to Russian capital flowing into London.

Question 45

When did Britain assist Russia in joining the G8?

Answer 45

1998: Britain assisted Russia in joining the G8.

Question 46

What conflict in Russia led to British concerns about indiscriminate bombing of civilians?

Answer 46

1994–1996: First Chechen War, where Russian forces bombed Chechen civilian areas, causing muted British concerns.

Question 47

What NATO action in the 1990s alarmed Russia?

Answer 47

1990s: NATO expanded eastward into East Germany and Poland, causing tensions with Russia.

Question 48

Why did Macmillan apply to join the EEC in 1961?

Answer 48

1961: Failure of Commonwealth trade and EFTA led Macmillan to apply to join the EEC.

Question 49

Who opposed the UK’s 1961 application to join the EEC?

Answer 49

1961: Labour left opposed as pro-capitalist; Conservative right opposed due to preference for Commonwealth trade.

Question 50

Who vetoed Britain's application to the EEC in 1963?

Answer 50

1963: President Charles de Gaulle of France vetoed Britain’s application to join the EEC.

Question 51

When was Britain’s second application to join the EEC vetoed?

Answer 51

1967: President Charles de Gaulle again vetoed the UK’s EEC application.

Question 52

When did Britain join the EEC?

Answer 52

1973: Britain, under Prime Minister Edward Heath, joined the EEC.

Question 53

What was the result of the 1975 referendum on EEC membership?

Answer 53

1975: Britain voted to stay in the EEC by 67% to 33%.

Question 54

Who led the campaign to leave the EEC in the 1975 referendum?

Answer 54

1975: Tony Benn represented the Labour left campaign to leave the EEC.

Question 55

Who led the campaign to remain in the EEC within the Labour and Conservative parties in 1975?

Answer 55

1975: Roy Jenkins represented Labour right and Margaret Thatcher represented Conservative position to remain in the EEC.

Question 56

What market integration did Thatcher help initiate in 1986?

Answer 56

1986: Thatcher helped initiate the Single European Market.

Question 57

Why did Britain initially refuse to take part in the 1957 Treaty of Rome?

Answer 57

1957: British Conservatives believed Commonwealth trade was stronger and resisted deeper union with Western Europe.

Question 58

What alternative to the EEC did Macmillan establish in 1960?

Answer 58

1960: Macmillan established the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) as an alternative to the EEC.

Question 59

What was Thatcher’s stance on the EEC budget in 1980?

Answer 59

1980: Thatcher fought against what she saw as excessive UK contributions to the EEC budget and secured a rebate.

Question 60

What was the Labour Party’s 1983 election platform regarding the EEC?

Answer 60

1983: The Labour Party campaigned for withdrawal from the EEC but lost the election.

Question 61

What did Thatcher criticize in 1990 regarding the EEC?

Answer 61

1990: Thatcher criticized the emergence of a 'European super-state' and opposed giving more powers to the European Parliament.

Question 62

What event in 1990 contributed to Thatcher’s resignation?

Answer 62

1990: Geoffrey Howe resigned in protest over Thatcher’s stance on Europe, contributing to her downfall.

Question 63

When did Britain join the Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM)?

Answer 63

1990: Britain joined the ERM to stabilize exchange rates between European currencies.

Question 64

What happened to Britain in the ERM in 1992?

Answer 64

1992: Britain was forced to leave the ERM after Black Wednesday.

Question 65

When did Britain ratify the Maastricht Treaty?

Answer 65

1993: Britain ratified the Maastricht Treaty after overcoming a Conservative backbench rebellion.

Question 66

What opt-outs did Britain negotiate as part of the EU in the 1990s?

Answer 66

1990s: Britain negotiated opt-outs from the single currency and the Social Chapter.

Question 67

What was the nature of Conservative Euroscepticism in the 1990s?

Answer 67

1990s: Eurosceptics on the Conservative backbenches were substantial, advocating a 'two-speed' Europe.